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Know the importance of taking care of the liver
Everything we eat, breathe or apply to our skin must be processed and detoxified by the liver, one of our most important organs, without which we definitely could not live.
Do you know exactly why and how the liver works ? It is responsible for extracting essential nutrients for digestion, storing energy in the form of glycogen and eliminating toxins that accumulate in your body, converting them into particles that are easier to eliminate through urine, excrement and sweating.
You must take care of it to have a healthy life, since when it does not work well, it causes imbalances in the body and can lead you to suffer from various diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
What is the liver?
It is a reddish-brown visceral organ located below the diaphragm and above the stomach, right kidney and intestines, on the right side of the abdomen and runs through the abdominal cavity longitudinally.
It is almost the size of a rugby ball. This makes it one of the largest organs in the human body, since it measures about 10 cm and weighs between 1.4 and 1.6 kg in adults.
All the blood that leaves the stomach and intestines passes through the liver, which processes, breaks down, balances and, consequently, eliminates many substances that can be harmful to the body, creates nutrients and metabolizes medications, so that your body can use them without them being toxic.
Liver functions
More than 500 vital functions of the liver have been identified. Some of them are:
Being so important, there is no room to doubt the importance of taking care of the liver.
How does the liver work?
It is normal to wonder how the liver works. Well, this organ receives blood from two different blood vessels: the hepatic artery, which provides oxygenated blood from the heart, and the portal vein, which carries nutrient-rich blood from the intestine.
When blood reaches this organ, it eliminates toxins by regulating the levels of chemicals in the blood. Medications, for example, are metabolized through the liver so that our body is able to use and eliminate them.
Also, it secretes bile, a substance that helps transport waste to expel it from the body and break down fats in the small intestine during digestion; and stores vitamins and glycogen in the form of sugars to generate the energy the body needs.
Once this blood has been processed, the hepatic veins are responsible for distributing it again throughout the body.
Liver related diseases
The liver is the only visceral organ with the capacity for regeneration, that is, when the tissue is healthy, it is capable of regenerating if a part is cut. Despite this amazing ability, there are some factors that prevent it from regenerating and consequently developing liver disease. Some of them are:
- Hereditary factors , such as hemochromatosis, in which an excessive accumulation of iron occurs that damages the tissue and alters its proper functioning. Iron is necessary for the transport of oxygen, but in high concentrations it is harmful.
- Viral infections that lead to hepatitis , which is an inflammation of the liver that, if it persists, can eventually progress to cirrhosis and eventually cause liver cancer.
- Unhealthy lifestyles are the biggest and very common reasons for liver dysfunction. They are associated with alcoholic liver disease or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, both direct consequences of alcohol abuse, the first, or poor diet, the second. And, as we have already explained in several posts, health is closely linked to what you eat.
However, the most frequent diseases are those caused by unhealthy lifestyles , which affect a significant percentage of the planet's population and which can be prevented by adopting new healthy habits .
Alcoholic liver disease or alcoholic liver disease:
It refers to a group of liver diseases derived from EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL INTAKE. To develop it, the amount and time during which alcoholic beverages are consumed influences. Excessive consumption can lead to three types of liver damage:
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease:
It is characterized by excessive fat accumulation in liver cells in people who consume little or no alcohol. It is estimated that it affects 1 in 4 people and the numbers are increasing. In some patients, the disease progresses to a more aggressive form called steatohepatitis, which can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure and has been associated with people who present:
Likewise, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease has been associated with genetic variants that increase the susceptibility of developing it.
People who have one or more of these conditions should pay more attention to their diet to reduce, with lifestyle changes, the risk of developing the disease.
To identify a liver problem, you must go to your doctor who will order a blood test and perform a physical evaluation. If the liver is soft and soft, it means it is fine. If it is hard and swollen, there is a problem.
If your doctor suspects something wrong, he or she may perform an ultrasound and other tests that will help him or her make a more accurate and specific diagnosis. After that, he will make the recommendations he considers necessary to take care of your liver.
What warning symptoms indicate that it is necessary to take care of the liver?
There are many disorders that can compromise liver health. However, the functions of this organ are not only altered by the development of certain pathologies, but also by lifestyle.
Although part of its functions are to detoxify your body, an excessive accumulation of toxins can deteriorate it. In fact, you can suffer attacks from the immune system or have imbalances due to inflammatory problems and being overweight.
The liver requires special attention. It is essential to be attentive to any symptoms that warn of problems, especially if there is exposure to any risk factor.
These symptoms can vary depending on the disease. However, many of these manifestations are similar and require medical evaluation to determine their origin.
The main warning signs that the liver is not working well are:
- Pain in the upper right part of the abdomen.
- Nausea and vomiting, especially after consuming irritating and greasy foods.
- Recurrent headache.
- Feeling of fatigue or tiredness for no apparent reason.
- Bad breath and metallic taste in the mouth.
- Yellowish skin and eyes (jaundice).
- Dark urine and changes in urination habits.
- Loss of appetite.
- Yellowish, grayish, or whitish stools
- Abdominal inflammation, slow digestion and constipation.
- Itching sensation all over the body.
- Digestive bleeding.
- Skin infections or allergies.
- Low tolerance to medications such as antibiotics.
- Sudden mood changes, such as irritability and depression.
- Edema or fluid accumulation in the extremities.
- Appearance of bruises or bruises, easily.
- Metabolic disorders, such as overweight, obesity and blood glucose problems.
Important!
The manifestation of these symptoms does not always indicate that your liver is bad. Although they are common due to liver diseases, they can also be caused by other conditions. Therefore, rather than becoming alert, it is best to request medical check-ups.
General recommendations to take care of the liver
The liver is the only organ that can continue to function correctly, even though it only has 30% of its mass.
And it is the only organ that can regenerate quickly from a healthy portion, since its cells multiply until it recovers its original mass. Therefore, it is important to take care of the liver so as not to abuse it and overwork it.
To take care of your liver it is recommended:
Evolution Advance Detox
It is a dietary supplement formulated by Evolution Advance with scientifically proven components that help in the detoxification process and support the liver.
It contains plant extracts and several lipotropic nutrients that promote the elimination of fat from the liver, involved in the metabolism of the methyl group, which is essential for normal liver function.
It contains plants and other components approved by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database , which makes Detox a specific supplement to improve and care for the liver.
Katuka or Himalayan root ( Picrorhiza kurroa )
Ayurveda medicine has used it for centuries to treat liver problems. It is a small perennial and creeping herb with a bitter taste, which is found in the Himalayan region and grows at altitudes of 3,000 to 5,000 meters. Its active components are obtained from the root and rhizomes. Current research on Picrorhiza kurroa has focused on its hepatoprotective, anticholestatic, antioxidant and immunomodulatory activity.
Milk Thistle ( Silybum marianum )
It has been used since ancient times to treat cirrhosis and to protect the liver from viral hepatitis, the harmful effects of alcohol and hepatotoxic drugs. In the 1960s, German researchers were so impressed with milk thistle's track record and clinical effectiveness that they began examining its active components. In 1986, Germany's Commission E approved an oral extract of milk thistle standardized to 70% crude silymarin content as a treatment for liver disease.
Turmeric Extract ( Curcuma longa )
It is known worldwide as an aromatic spice, used in Asian cuisine to give a touch of color and spicy flavor to dishes. The phytochemical compounds present in its characteristic orange rhizome, curcuminoids , give this plant important medicinal properties . So much so that it was adopted as a medicinal product by the Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) on November 12, 2009.
This plant is used in many traditional medicine systems (Chinese, Hindu and Ayurvedic) to relieve problems such as liver disorders, anorexia, rheumatism or diabetes. These possible health benefits have been linked to the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties of curcumin.
EDTA Salt (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid)
It is used as a chelating agent that can create complexes with metals. It is used to precipitate toxic heavy metals such as lead, iron, mercury, copper, aluminum, nickel, zinc, cobalt and manganese, so that they can be excreted through urine; It also prevents the deposit of cholesterol in the liver.
L-methionine
It is an essential amino acid for the formation of proteins. But it also has important functions in the protection and care of the liver, such as being an agent that inhibits the accumulation of fatty deposits in the liver.
It is an essential liver protector for manufacturing cysteine, (component of the antioxidant glutathione) that neutralizes the countless compounds that damage the liver.
Helps reduce depressed liver function due to excessive fat accumulation. Also, in the detoxification of the liver and cells, by neutralizing toxins, free radicals and secondary products of metabolic and hormonal waste.
L-Asparagine
It is one of the 20 amino acids that are part of proteins. Clinical studies show that it improves liver function, defends against inflammation, liver injury and prevents drug toxicity.
Don't forget that taking care of your liver and your life depend on how healthy you are. Love him and love yourself.
And as we always tell you, if you have any health problem, go to a doctor, especially if you have any discomfort or any of the symptoms described in this post.
